Don't Want to Split

Chapter 14 - Let's Go Home

"Now I have to make rules. We do everything in my own way. Or the... " Ezra hangs his threat in the air.

"Or?" Lirih Zefanya.

"Or you go back to the hospital and reflect there until you want to talk to me!"

"I don't want to go back there. I don't want to!" zefanya panicked. Both of his hands were rocking - swaying in front of his chest. Defeated, Zephaniah had already lost and was forced to give in to the decision of Ezra, a man ten years older than Zephaniah.

Ezra nodded in satisfaction. "Good girl's. Then, it's time to enjoy the dessert."

He coded the waiter to deliver his order dessert, a cotton candy ice cream that is currently in trend. Since long ago, Ezra always gave Zefanya ice cream whenever the girl was feeling bad. Oh'ya. for Ezra until whenever Zefanya is his sweet little girl, regardless of her stubbornness and craving.

An ice cream cone with a unique shape is presented Ezra received from the waiter and gave it to Zefanya.

"Some places call it cloudy ice cream because the cone is covered by clouds." Ezra explained while pointing at the cotton candy that enveloped the ice cream.

"Oh, I guess because it tastes like cotton candy."

Ezra smile. Fishing succeeded. His wife was easily distracted, especially when it was discussed about his favorite food. Although his body is small, Zefanya likes to eat. He is the number one person who knows every new restaurant that opens near their residence. His habit of whining about trying, always made Ezra unable to resist.

"No, Ma Moitie. Ice cream has three flavors. Vanilla, matcha and Hojicha. And I chose your favorite vanilla." Ezra blinked one eye. "Do you want to add a topping?"

"Could you?"

Ezra nodded. "There are cookies, popcorn and Japanese sweets. Which one do you want?"

Zefanya looked confused. Honestly, he wanted to try everything one by one. But his pride got in the way. He had repeatedly rejected Ezra, and was now attracted to the food offered by the man in front of him.

'You're really greedy, Zie!' Maki Zefanya in heart.

Ezra laughed softly. The first laugh that appeared on his face after so long his forehead kept frowning as he thought of the fate of his wife who was between life and death. Zefanya. The cloudiness on Ezra's face instantly disappeared, his face shining. Her soft eyes while looking at Zefanya were combined with a firm jawline, making Zefanya's heart flutter. Unable to resist the charm of an Ezra Halley.

'Now how can I convince Ezra that I really mean this divorce while my heart is betraying?'

Knowing his wife was confused in making a choice, Ezra promised to order one kind of topping every time the ice cream in Zefanya's hands ran out.

"I'll be full, Ez." Zephaniah refused trying to be firm. But failing, his voice was more like the whining of a child.

"Enjoy it slowly. Eat as much as you can, I'll spend the rest." persuaded Ezra.

"But-"

"You need a lot of food to get your weight back to how it was, Zie." said Ezra softly but firmly.

Zefanya shut up and took her second ice cream, popcorn. The sweet and savory taste melted simultaneously on his tongue, making his Zefanya cluck with satisfaction. Ezra himself seemed satisfied with the development of the situation that occurred at this time.

"How can you go to Edinburgh without using my money? You just disappeared and came up with sad news." said Ezra sadly.

Despite expecting Ezra to ask this, Zefanya still felt surprised. But it is a normal question that everyone will ask when their loved ones simply disappear. He appeared in terrible condition in the hospital.

If their positions were reversed, he would have asked the same question the second they first met. And Zefanya's typical, she will continue to press until she gets a satisfactory answer.

The zefanya stuffed the remaining small pieces of cone into her mouth. Once again, Zefanya looked at the face of Ezra who seemed to be waiting for her patiently. Her husband let himself enjoy his ice cream to the end. Again, Ezra proved his patience in facing Zephaniah.

Realizing Ezra deserves an explanation, Zefanya decides to come clean.

"Hm.. , you did give me a lot of money on my cards all along. And I rarely wear it because every single strand of clothes and thing I wear, everything you've given me is more than enough."

"Then?"

"Actually I could've taken the money from your card, but I'm afraid you're easily tracking it. So I just brought the rest of the money I took the last time I went to the shopping center."

"After that, what happened?"

Zefanya was silent, she looked fearfully - fear of Ezra. This situation reminds him of the moment when he was in the badung phase - his body and wanted to try everything. Instead of snapping at him, Ezra asks him one by one chronologically himself to go to a hidden nightclub - hiding to celebrate the birthday of one of his high school friends. Until Zefanya was made to not dwell and promised never to repeat his actions again.

"My money ran out to rent a place to stay and eat for a few days. So I'm looking for a good job. Unfortunately, I didn't bring anything including my spit."

"So what are you doing?"

Ezra folded his hands together in front of his chest, his arm muscles tempting Zefanya to sway spoiled as she had been - already. Of course Zefanya is quick - quick to dismiss her dirty thoughts far - far away and back to talking as normally as possible. His little heart kept reminding him not to fall back on Ezra's charm, despite having failed from the beginning.

"I. . I applied to be a babysitter. A kind family accepted me but it didn't last long. They just used me to replace their sick babysitter. When the nanny came back, my job was over."

"Do you know that you have Aunty Laura in Edinburgh? Why didn't you call her?" ask her with a flat face while putting her coffee cup on the coaster.

Zefanya. "I think I've contacted him."

"No, Zie. Know - know your lawyer came to me and handed me the divorce papers. Aunty Laura didn't even know anything about you until I heard from my man that a tragic accident happened to you." Ezra's expression returned grim. "Your brother doesn't know where you are."

Zefanya. His memories overlapped again, a wave of pain crashing back at him.

"Ughh! Honestly, I don't remember anything about that lawyer. Dr. Sandra told me about the accident and also about our unfinished divorce."

Ezra cleans his mouth with a napkin.

"The reason for your escape is not clear and you still dare to ask me to divorce you? Don't be silly, Zie!" Then he stood up. "Let's go home!"